Commutercentric Videos: A Utility Cycling Roundup

Oct 3, 2011 By Stacey Moses Posted in The Archives Tagged with Commute by Bike 4 Comments

If you aren’t a regular at Utility Cycling, you’ve been missing some fantastic commuter-specific video posts lately. Without further ado, we give you a sampling of the best recent “commute by bike” videos, thanks to Utility Cycling and the original producers of the videos. And if you like this collection, there is plenty more for your viewing pleasure at UtilityCycling.org.

4 thoughts on “Commutercentric Videos: A Utility Cycling Roundup”

Karen Voyer-Caravona says:

October 4, 2011 at 3:21 pm

I love all these videos because I think that each, in it’s own way, beautifully illustrates how making the switch to bicycling or combining it with other modalities contributes to a better quality of life. Little things like being able to make a quick stop, that doesn’t involve hunting for a parking, for a loaf of bread or a cup of coffee really put a smile on my face and make my day just a little bit more civilized.

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BluesCat says:

October 4, 2011 at 3:41 pm

I’m with you, Karen.

The mornings when I commute by bike, I stop off at a Starbucks on the way and put the full, steel Gentleman’s cup in the bottle cage BEHIND the seat. That way, I am forced to stop, take a sip, and enjoy the early morning quiet for a few moments before continuing on.

On the mornings I need to use the car, I take off on the bike and go to a different Starbucks, then head back to the house and take a “sip stop” at the end of the ride before going in to shower up and head to work.

So, even if I DON’T CbB, I have an early morning ride to help prepare me for my day.

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Harry says:

October 13, 2011 at 5:29 am

I have been an AVID commuter/everyday cyclist for many years now. I recently purchased my first cargo bike and I must say that, so far, I have been incredibly impressed and would not go back to a “short” bike again.

Here’s what I ride now!!!!!
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m279/hbrogan57/Cargo%20Bike/DSC_0022.jpg

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Joel says:

October 26, 2011 at 6:52 pm

These are inspiring videos. Once again, this site is the “Weight Watchers” of cyclists in its consistent support of “Newbie Commuters.”

I have just completed thirty of about forty days of possible commuting by bike to the bus in the past two months (twenty possible commuting days per month). I admit that I do not ride on known days that are wet and rainy because, as a motorist, I can barely see the road some mornings in the dark with slapping windshield wipers streaking. To look for a cyclist, even with lights and reflectors on those mornings, is tough. I use lightly traveled back roads and bike paths for my normal commute. The road section is rural. I have to use a little caution and common sense. In some places, about 1/2 mile total, there is no shoulder and I have to share the road with heavy traffic. In most normal conditions without wet weather, all is well.

I am going into the fall months. My incentives to ride have so many objectives: lose weight, keep weight off, save money, I just enjoy biking, Thanksgiving is coming (refer to objective number one), Christmas is coming (refer to objective number one), and New Years is coming (refer to objective number one).

My New Year’s resolution will most probably relate to losing weight (refer to objective one of the previously mentioned list).

Oh my God! I have just discovered a common thread here. Commuting to work with a bike helps me to control my weight! Biking is good! Biking is very good! Commuting by bike is good!

I am proud to say that I have dropped about one pound per week with a combination of reasonable caloric intake (greater than 1,500 calories per day) and reasonable exercise (about an additional 400 to 800 calories per day). Biking is good. Commuting cycling allows me to use a bike to dual advantage.

Did I mention that I just enjoy biking?

You cannot miss me; I am wearing a huge thirty-pound something backpack that has a change of clothes, breakfast, lunch, work items, and dual bike locks in it. I am riding that cheapo Dynacorp Magna Dual Divide bicycle from 1999 that weighs about 40 pounds (and is durable as a Sherman Tank). I have dual lights up-front, a focused long range oval beam and a secondary close look-for-the-curb second light for when the high beams of oncoming traffic blind me. My brilliant five LED red fast blinking light to the stern should disturb about any motorist I can think of. If they are saying, “What is that UFO on the shoulder?”, mission accomplished. Combine that with a rider in his fifties trying to relive the glory of his youth and you have found me!

Did I mention the beautiful fall foliage that I saw today on my way home?

Nice videos, very inspiring!

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